Socio-economic Dimensions of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Conflict in Nigeria

There are various issues of mineral resources extraction that result in conflict in different parts of the world. Countries that are endowed with natural mineral resources do have lots of issues to contend with, such as environmental degradation, slow development, health hazards, multiple extortions, land encroachment, air and water pollution, among others. All these issues do result in different kinds of conflict which automatically affect the mining communities directly or indirectly. Hence, this paper focuses on the socio-economic impacts of artisanal and small-scale gold mining conflict in Nigeria. Exploratory research design was adopted. Some gold mining communities in Northern and Southwest, Nigeria were purposively selected for the study. Data were collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), In-Depth Interviews (IDI) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Secondary data were sourced from periodicals and archives. Data were content analysed. There are several impacts of gold mining conflict in these communities in Nigeria, but the study is focused on the socio-economic impacts on the communities, which have affected them in every aspect of their personal, social and communal lives. The paper concluded that good governance, review of the laws guiding artisanal and small-scale mining, dialogue and consideration of relocating the gold mining communities will help in minimising and/or eliminating the socioeconomic impacts of the conflict in the communities.